Refrigerant evaporator



g- 1943- G. THOMAS 2,328,511

REFRIGERANT EVAPORATOR Filed July 27, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l (j. iav'gioma Aug. 31, 1943. a THOMAS 2,328,511

REFRIGERANT EVAPORATOR Filed July 27, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 31, 1943 OFFICE REFRIGERAN '1 EVAPORATOR Gustav'Thomas, Dresden-Loschwitz, Germany; vested in the Alien Property Custodian Application July 27, 1938, Serial No. 221,493 In Germany June 21, 1935 Granted under the provisions of sec. 14, act of March 2, 1927; 357 0. G.

7 Claims.

This invention relates to evaporators for refrigerator cabinets having compression refrigeration plants, and has for its object to construct such apparatus in an improved manner.

According to this invention, the refrigerant evaporator comprises a refrigerant header integral with an ice tray carrier of U-design open on three sides and disposed on the underside of the header and having interco-minunicating tubular passages or ducts which are indirect communication with the header and which are traversed by the refrigerant.

The evaporator preferably consists of a tubular or cylindrical refrigerant headerwith end walls, which may be soldered or welded to the header. Inthe interior of the header a float is arranged, which in a manner known per se controls the liquid refrigerant inlet valve (not shown). The header also contains the lubricant for the compressor, means being provided for supplying lubricant intermittently to the compressor.

According to the invention the end of the outlet tube to the compressor projecting into the header is U-shaped and extends to the bottom of the header, and the end of the tube is bevelled and located above the normal level of the lubricant in the header. The lower end of the bevelled opening being arranged substantially on the level of the lubricant.

The invention will be clearly understood from the following description aided by the accompanying drawings in which the invention is illustrated by way of example.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view, showing an evap orator.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing part of an evaporator.

Fig. 3 is a perspective of another example of the evaporator shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing part of an evaporator with two groups of communicating tubes.

Fig. 5 is a cross-section of the upper part of a refrigerator embodying the instant invention.

Similar numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views.

Theevaporator shown in Fig. 1 comprises a cylindrical header I integral with end members 2 and 3, an ice tray carrier 30 and a refrigerant vapour and oil outlet tube 6 projecting into the header I, the outlet end 4 of which is adapted to be connected to the suction tube of the cornpressor.

.All these parts form an integral body cast of a corrosion-proof and acid-proof metal alloy, preferably a light metal alloy. The refrigerant vapour and oil outlet tube 6 may, however, be cast separately and secured therein. The carrier 30 is formed integral with the evaporator and is preferably formed with pairs of intercommunieating ducts 3 l, which communicate directly with the header. By this arrangement a thorough utilization of the refrigerant is rendered possible.

The upper ends of any two ducts 3| intercom-- nected at theirklower ends as a pair open at different leads upon header I, so that a certain flow is set up and prevents delays of evaporation, which. might occur when these top openings are at the same level. The ice tray carrier forms av U-shaped pocket which is open on three sides. This is of advantage because the air in the cabinet will readily flow over this U-shaped body. The cooling of the cabinet is thus accelerated and a higher efliciency than hitherto is achieved.

The end of the tube 6 projecting into the header is U-shaped and projects up to above the normal level of the oil floating on the refrigerant liquid.

TheopeningQ at the end of the tube 6 is bevelled. The lower end of this opening is on or somewhat near the normal oil level, so that; oil floating on the refrigerant can be drawn ofi with the vapour.

Fig. 2 shows part of a simple cylindrical evaporator I9 the end members may be welded to the main evaporatorbody. A suction tube 28 leads from the evaporator to the pump and may be welded or soldered to the evaporator. The end of the tube projecting into the evaporator is U-shaped and extends to the bottom of the evaporator and then up again. above the level 32 of the cooling fluid. The opening 29 at the end of the tube is bevelled. The lower end or this opening extends into the neighborhood of the oil level 32a. Through the bevelledopening oil floating on the cooling fluid in the evaporator will be intermittently drawn off. Through the same opening the gasified cooling fluid is sucked oil. 3

The embodiments of Figs. 3 and 4 show part of an evaporator comprising a cylindrical casing M adapted to be connected to the suction tube. The carrier as shown is formed by communicating tubes- 3|, which in turn communicate directly with the float chamber 24 These tubes 3| and the tubes 3, which are alternatingly complementarily interposed between said tubes 31 in the bottom end of Fig. 4, are preferably made of corrosion resistant and acid proof material. These tubes have a horizontal loop onto which may be placed in the ice-box a container, in which ice is to be made. From these loops extend up the riser portions of the tubes 3 I and 3|", and they connect to the casing 24, e. g. by a solder or welded joint.

In Fig. 3, the tubes 3W are also surrounded by a sheet metal covering, which is cut out in such fashion, that the U-tubes are upwardly open and exposed for their whole length.

In Fig. 4, the separate tubes 3H and 31 are also arranged in such fashion that the horizontally disposed loops of the tubes 31 overlappingly extend between the horizontal loops of pairs of adjoining tubes 3W. Thus the horizontal loops of tubes 3% and the horizontal loops 3P alternatingly extend side by side in the plane of the bottom of the compartment which serves for making the ice underneath the cylindrical casing 24 The riser portions of the tubes Zi and ni open into and are sealedly connected with said casing 24 substantially upon opposite sides of said casing.

In the refrigerator of Fig.5 the casing has the side walls 6! surrounding the cooling chamber 62. The upper end of the casing is tightly closed by a cover 63. The side walls El are formed with shoulders t4 adapted to serve as seats for a partition separating the chamber 69 containing the compressor-condenser apparatus from. the refrigerator compartment or cooling chamber E'Z That partition consists in this embodiment of the invention of two metal plates 51, 61 with an intermediate layer 65 of a heat insulating material. This structure is detachably mounted upon the shoulders 64, e. g. by means of screws 54 The evaporator l, which together with the ice container 2| is arranged below the insulated metal plate, may for instance operate with sulfurous acid.

The chamber 59 proper is shown to be mounted on a raised portion 63 of the plate (-31. It has the cover 10 and an inlet tube '5 i. The plate 6.! also carries the condenser 12. In front of the condenser the motor 14 is fulcrumed upon plate 61 in a tip bearing it. A fan i3 is keyed to the motor shaft. A helical spring or other pressure means '55 is engaged at one end on the motor casing and at the other end on the chamber 68, so that the driving belt '58 is permanently tightened.

The cooling fluid is supplied from the evapders 6t and to remove this structure from the refrigerator casing together with the whole apparatus mounted thereon. The electro-motor, the drive, the pump, the evaporator and the condenser are now accessible from all sides and orator to the pump through a supply tube 4,

which passes through the base plate structure 51, B5, 61 and communicates with the pump inlet H. The condenser 12 and the evaporator l are connected by way of a return tube (not shown), through which the condensed cooling fluid flows back into the evaporator. The pump and the condenser communicate through a tube 82'. Adjacent the motor M is arranged a switch 83. This switch controls the motor circuit and when the motor tilts over and actuates the switch by means of lug M the motor circuit is opened.

That arrangement operates in the following manner:

The vaporizer l is filled with a cooling fluid which is vaporized and consumes heat. This heat is withdrawn from the cooling chamber 62, and ice is formed in said chamber on the carrier 21. The vaporized cooling fluid is sucked off by the pump 59, 10 through the tube 4 and the inlet ll. and is then forced through the tube 82" into the condenser 12'. In the condenser the cooling fluidis condensed. and it flows back in liquid form.

can easily be repaired or adjusted.

This application is a continuation in part of my co-pending application Serial No. 86,689, filed June 22, 1936, and entitled Refrigerator.

The foregoing description of several embodiments is not to be interpreted in limitation but only in illustration of the instant invention.

I claim:

I. A refrigerant evaporator for a refrigerator cabinet, consisting of a refrigerant header in tegral with an ice tray carrier of U-design forming a chamber open on three sides, having continuous longitudinal surfaces, located below the header and having a plurality of tubular passages each of which isat both ends in direct communication with the interior of the header and which are traversed by the refrigerant, the header and ice tray carrier being cast integrally from a corrosion-proof and acid-resisting metal alloy, preferably of light metal.

2. A refrigerant evaporator for a refrigerator cabinet, consisting of a. refrigerant header integral with an ice tray carrier of U-design forming a chamber open on three sides, having continuous longitudinal surfaces, located below the header and having tubular return loops which are arranged in parallel and each in direct communication with the interior of the header from where they are flooded by the refrigerant, and a refrigerant vapour and oil outlet, the ice tray carrier and its communicating ducts and the header being cast integrally with the refrigerant vapour and oil outlet from a corrosion-proof and acid-resisting metal alloy or light metal.

3. A refrigerant evaporator for a refrigerator system having a compressor, comprising a refrigerant header, an ice tray carrier of U-design forming a chamber open on three sides, located below the header and having tubular passages or ducts which are in direct communication with the interior of the header and which are trayersed by the refrigerant, an outlet pipe through which the vaporized refrigerant is drawn into the compressor and which is bent at'the end, said outlet pipe extending through the top of the header into the interior thereof and being provided, for drawing off the vapour and oil, with an upwardly sloping or bevelled mouth, beginning at the normal level of the oil floating on the refrigerant.

4. In a refrigerator, a combined evaporator and ice tray carrier comprising a container for cooling fluid and a carrier body extending laterally out from said container and having communicating wall channels for said ice tray carrier, the ice tray carrier forming a depending U-shaped pocket which is open on three sides, and a suction tube extending substantially vertically down into said container, the end of the suction tube located in the container being bent back substantially upward and having a bevelled end opening through which a lubricant floating in the container may intermittently overflow through the tube to the places to be lubricated.

5. A combined refrigerant evaporator and ice tray carrier comprising a container for cooling fluid and a carrier consisting of communicating tubes forming channels for the circulation of the cooling fluid, the tubes forming a pocket and being in pairs of communicating tubes, alternately arranged upon and integrally fastened onto opposite sides of the container and in direct communication with the interior of the evaporator.

6. In a refrigerator, a combined evaporator and ice tray carrier comprising a. container for cooling fluid and a carrier body having communicating wall channels forming a U-shaped pocket 20 which is open on three sides, communicating channels which all are arranged side by side in said carrier body and in direct communication with the interior of said container, one leg of each communicating channel being longer than the other one and opening at a higher level next to the other one into the container.

7. A refrigerant evaporator for a refrigerator cabinet, consisting of a refrigerant header integral with an ice tray carrier of U-design forming a chamber open on three sides, located below the header and having a plurality of tubular passages all disposed in a common plane, interconnected in pairs and being at their free ends in direct communication with the interior of the header and which are traversed by the refrigerant, said chamber being substantially closed bottomwise and on one side.

GUSTAV THOMAS. 

